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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

I know we're still a couple of days from the end of the month, and I encourage you to keep sewing!

EVERY STITCH MATTERS!!!

My little guy is having a "routine" surgery tomorrow, and my time and attention will be on him for the next few days, so I wanted to kind of get the monthly wrap up started just a bit early.

I will be delivering my stockings to our Children's Hospital the week of December 10th, giving plenty of time for those packages to get here. Please keep this date in mind if you would like your stockings to be part of the donation I deliver. Dona, on the West Coast, makes more frequent/regular deliveries to her Children's, but this is still a good target date to consider so your items will arrive in plenty of time for Christmas.

When you are ready to ship your stockings, please email me for the address and let me know if you want the West Coast of East Coast address. Please be patient if it takes me a little extra time to get back to you, I will respond as soon as I can.

I can't say enough how VERY GRATEFUL I am for your time and support as you have sewn along to help spread CHEER this month! It's such a joy to participate in each of the projects with you.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

I have another little friend that has had to wear an Ostomy Bag in the past. (yay!!! Not right now though as her's was recently reversed!) To make it a little more discreet and comfortable for her, she had a special cover to wear over it. Her mom asked if I could make her some more and so, I thought it would be another great tutorial to share with you!

These are SUPER SIMPLE to make and don't require much fabric at all!

*Note that you may have to adjust any measurements based on the individual wearing it. It's such a simple sew that should be easy if you do though. My instructions also include steps finished with a serger....you can alternately hem these steps.

What you need:

Fat Quarter of fabric.

Elastic for waistband.

RST = Right Sides Together

RSO = Right Side Out

Measure the elastic for the waistband and add to the pouch.

I used a plush fold-over elastic, left open, to provide a softer and wider elastic.

The elastic can be added in a couple of different ways. You can simply thread it through the casing and then stitch the cut ends together. The bag will slide along the elastic if done this way, and my little friend didn't like that. So, the alternate is to stitch the elastic at both ends of the casing.

Here's what it looks like on. (I didn't make this one.)

Using the measurements listed, you can make 3 of these bag covers from a single fat quarter!

Monday, November 19, 2012

I want to thank you all for jumping in to sew along and SPREAD CHEER the way you have! I appreciate, more than you will likely ever know, sewing with you each month with the purpose of making a difference in the life of someone else. What a blessing!

Today I'd like to offer my gratitude through a CHEER-filled giveaway! :)

This little bundle was created from my stash and includes an unused Stocking Pattern, various fabric cuts from charms to fat quarter size, a package of holiday appropriate buttons and yards of lace in both red and green. A perfect bundle to spread some CHEER! :)

If you are sewing along with us this month, simply follow the prompts below to be entered.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Winner will be announced and emailed 11/26/12 and given 48 hours to respond and claim prize.

Again, thank you all for sewing along and using your gifts and talents to give back in such creative and generous ways!

Friday, November 16, 2012

An awesome email from Melissa and AM at Sew BitterSweet sharing about the HUGE boxes filled with gifts from our Remember September project headed to their destination!

My van FULL of fabric passed on to me from a friend's mother....loads of knits, polyesters and gorgeous wools to go through!

Teaching a local sewing class where we made items for a non-profit organization.

Taking my children to the Veteran's Cemetery where my daddy is buried and having the opportunity to share with them about this amazing man and all the others buried there. Then, waking the next morning to find the message above on our chalkboard from my son. A.F.W. are my father's initials.

So incredibly much to be grateful for as we head into Thanksgiving week. I hope you are finding yourself recognizing the blessings surrounding you as well.

This was a simple dress to put together and the PDF pattern offers plenty of detailed instructions and step-by-step pictures to assist you as you sew.

The simplicity of this sweet pattern allows plenty of room for personalization. I choose to applique a a simple flower shape in the same fabric as I used for the bodice lining.

One of my favorite parts of this dress is the coordinating button closure. My sweet girl loves it too and will proudly turn around for you to see her flower! :)

This is the only adjustment I made to the pattern as written, I simply lengthened my closure to accommodate the larger button.

I love that this easy-to-wear dress will be extra warm when layered with a turtleneck and leggings or tights during the winter months, and can easily transition into early spring with a t-shirt. It's already a fast favorite of my daughter, so it's sure to get lots of wear.

Getting a good picture of her in it.....now that's another story.

Being 2 and all....there's just so many more important things to be doing than posing for pictures. ;)

I had a small cut of pre-quilted fabric in my Christmas bin and thought it would be perfect for this project! This is how I turned it into a couple of stockings...

Cut 2 stocking shapes from your pre-quilted fabric. Be sure to flip your pattern over so that you will have a stocking pointing in each direction to sew together. Pin the 2 stocking pieces together with whichever side you want to be see on the inside. Stitch and turn right side out.

Carefully pin bias trim along the raw edge of the top of the stocking.

Cut a piece of the bias tape for your hanger and stitch along open side.

Place the hanger at the center of the back seam under the top trim and pin in place.

Stitch the top trim in place, securing the hanger and folding under the end as you finish.

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Hopeful Threads - Creativity Shared!

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Hopeful Threads exists to provide ideas and encouragement for others to #SewToShare. Currently, I am suggesting that each person simply look within their own communities and connections for opportunities to give back this way. Occasionally, we will also work on a specific project together that is open to all interested and available to participate. Simply like minded people sewing and sharing the experience and outreach together. "Sew" happy you are here!

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If something on this blog inspires you to create, great! That's the idea! Home sewers, feel free to use my tutorials to create as you choose, I simply ask that in addition to making things for yourself, you also find a way to give back with your creative talents. Please don't copy the tutorial itself. Content and photographs are the property of Kristy Smith.

As for my pictures, you are welcome to use project pictures when pinning or linking back to my posts. Pics of my family are just mine though, so please don't reuse them in any way. Thanks!

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"When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another." ~ Helen Keller